ANDALUCIA!!!!

All right...I know its been MONTHS and MONTHS since I posted...I cannot even begin to come up with the energy to explain myself...just chalk it up to busy-ness...and the holidays...and sheer "computer burn-out"... I really tried to just focus on real life things for the past few weeks (okay months) and NOT worry about online (which can almost seem real;))things for awhile--a fact which my family appreciated (well my IMMEDIATE family...all those family members that check in here for updates...sorry about that...)

We DID take a Christmas card photo...which...ahem...I have yet to mail ALL of them yet (so if you usually get one from me and haven't this year--don't give up hope!)

This was the front:

and this was on the inside:

We did have a lovely Holiday season...it was very low-key and just us, and it was a great opportunity to start some of our own Holiday traditions and really spend time together. The kids had a fabulous Christmas...they ALL agreed it was the BEST one ever (Carter didn't have that many Christmas's to choose from, but he fully agreed with his sisters that this one was quite nice...)

soooo....OH yes, the reason for the title of this post??? Patty Young's fabric, ANDALUCIA...is finally available--and lots of ladies over on ebay put together a launch of just Andalucia goodies...you should go check them out...

I LOVE these fabrics, they are so bright and fun...and perfect for outfits that defy the cold dreary weather outside right now (if we can't have sun, let's have some sunny bright clothes right?)

Here are my listings so far...I think I still want to make more! And some pics for fun...

We are actually planning a trip....just Howard and I...(gasp) without CHILDREN...to New Orleans and Las Vegas in two weeks--I still cannot quite believe we are going, but we already paid for the hotel and airfare, so maybe we are;) I shall blog more about THAT momentous occasion later...but for now I feel quite pleased with myself that I've managed to finally post...he he...and at least gave those of you who patiently still check in here SOMETHING new to look at!

Stay warm...

So I'm a flaky blogger....

darn...sorry I'm such a flaky chick when it comes to the blogging...I guess I'm too busy LIVING the moment to write about it! (that is my excuse anyway...) I do have lots of stuff to blog about...two different family visits....a wedding anniversary(can I really have been married 14 years already???where did THAT time go?) Two birthdays...(one of us turned 5 and one of us turned 35...I'll let you guess WHO) and several projects, both sewing and decorating...
SEE??? Busy busy...that is my problem!
I HAVE been hanging out with a fabulous group of ladies on my small amount of computer time...the wonderful ladies who run the Boutique Buyers Blog asked me to do a guest-writer post for the month of October...you can check out my attempt to be funny HERE...please feel free to leave NICE comments, (go easy on me folks) and remember...I never claimed to be a good writer...
And costume season is over....darn....
I do have a few more pics of costumes to post, I feel sad to be done already--but quite happy to be moving on to Holiday-wear! Since I have PILES of corduroys and silks...and taffetas....and knits all staring at me waiting for me to make them into SOMETHING for colder weather, I'd better stop typing and get sewing.
Here is my latest listing...I had the opportunity to guest with the LimeVine girls (a fabulous design group on ebay) and they had the fabulous theme of "LUSTRE"...

You can visit the auction for this little number HERE...

Costumes....Costumes....

OY.....I'm falling behind on updates here!
Here is some more fun costume pictures you might like to see...these auctions
have all ended...but they are always fun to look at! Maybe I'll have to add
a link at the side just for a costume slideshow...I get so many requests for pics of
all my costumes, that might be the way to go!

soo....here is the "Bubble Dress" based on Galinda's (Glinda's) dress from the Broadway musical "Wicked"

Except of course...I added a bustle and a train--since EVERYTHING is improved with a bustle and train isn't it? (In my world, it IS...just agree with me...;))

Then let's see, here is a Carter-boy dressed as the Tin-Man...he was HILARIOUS walking around in this costume, most of my pictures were of him ripping the hat/hood off his head and throwing it down then running away laughing....he is SUCH a mischievious little scamp!

MOST Of the pictures looked like this:

then, finally...here is the WICKEDLY more evil character of the bunch...a version of Elphaba's dress from "Wicked"

You can check out the auction HERE...

I'm a bit sleep-deprived...so much sewing and creating...SO little time....and little people around here keep making messes and demanding food and playtime;) Guess that is why most of my sewing gets done from 10 pm to 2 am...anyone else up at that time?

Give me a call...I'll be here...

The opening of Costume Season...

I would like to officially declare Costume Season "OPEN"!!! Did anyone else grow up in a hunting family? My father and brothers (and husband) are quite the hunting fanatics...most of our fall and winter activities were planned around WHEN the archery hunt started...when the rifle hunt started....when they ended...muzzle-loader hunts, special moose-hunt...special "north side of the Uintah Mountains" hunt...get the picture?;) I spent quite a few birthdays (my birthday is in October) in a camp-trailer, IN the "Book-Cliff" wilderness area, because opening weekend of the deer-hunt happened to fall on my birthday. You can actually make quite a good cake in a little propane stove...and I give full marks to my mother for making those birthdays quite as wonderful and memorable as any I've had.

But....I digress....

I've listed a fun new little costume on ebay...well, TWO costumes actually, but one is from last year.

THE QUEEN of HEARTS ....I'm quite taken with the whole black/white/red thing going on...not to mention I love small crowns...he he....AND I cannot think about the "queen of hearts" without thinking about the Disney cartoon and the cheshire cat parting is hair in the middle, grabbing both sides of it and pulling them straight down and sternly declaring all ways here are "THE QUEENS WAY"...a line that should be used more often in life I think...depending on who thinks they are THE QUEEN...

I also listed the Mad-Hatter...one of my most popular costumes ever, and one I receive quite a few requests for. The problem is...I really have a hard time repeating myself! I LOVE the creating of the first one, and then I'm okay with having to make another one...but after that, I am done with the whole thing and want to move on to another design....maybe I'm slightly attention deficit prone or something, lol! But it has been a year...so I figure I can make another one...actually looking forward to it!

sigh....in case you are wondering WHY in the world I haven't posted for so long...well, its a ghastly story involving a computer crash (a computer, I might add...that has 16,000 priceless pictures on it, ALL my business information, logos...shipping...etc, basically my whole life) AND the start of school for two girls...AND illness....I dunno, but I shall post about all of that now that life seems to be somewhat returning to normal...

Finally! A new listing...."Summers End"

Oh. My. Goodness. Is it just me, or does it feel like 5 years since I've listed anything? It was lovely having a wee summer break...but I really missed listing, there is something curiously addicting about it (as my husband can attest--he is sure I need some kind of 12-step program before I can wean myself from ebay...;))

Anyway...a cute little pinafore for Fall....with mushroom applique? Who doesn't want one of those???



I love fall...love the colors, love the way the light seems somehow diffused...LOVE it!



I have got SOOOO many plans for cool Halloween costumes this year...I love having an excuse to make something totally off-the-wall...that otherwise you'd have no reason to make!

Special Ebay Listing...

Two POSTS in one day??? Eeek!

Well I forgot to add...I have a special ebay listing up right now...and I just wanted to make note of it...



This sweet young family lost their husband and father very unexpectedly...and several boutique sellers on ebay have banded together to raise as much money as possible to donate to a fund for the children.

ALL proceeds from the auction will go directly to the family...so if you need a cute little halter outfit for your little one for summer AND want to support a very worthy cause...feel free to bid here :)